10 Things You Didn't Know About Dayton Germanfest Picnic

10 Things You Didn't Know About Dayton Germanfest Picnic

Dayton Germanfest Picnic invites you to “Get YOUR Gemütlichkeit on” August 9-11, 2024! Though an imperfect translation, the invitation is to come, be cheerful, friendly, and comfortable. The fact that this event is celebrating its 41st year is evidence that we Daytonians really know how to and enjoy “Getting OUR Gemütlichkeit on”. 

Admission is FREE!

Based at the Liederkranz-Turner clubhouse in beautiful, historic St. Anne's Hill , as well as adjoining Bomberger Park and Fifth Street from Keowee to Dutoit Streets, the Germanfest Picnic features traditional German food, bier, music, cultural displays, a kinder korner, souvenirs, crafts, other vendors, and a Polka Mass on Sunday. New this year is an All-German Car Show on Sunday afternoon. There is truly something for everyone.

Things you may not know about the Germanfest Picnic:

1. Dayton Liederkranz-Turner was granted a charter as a singing club in 1890, making them the OLDEST German-American club in the area 
2. They have “Potato Peeling Parties” the week before the picnic
3. 1500 Pounds of the world’s best Potato Salad are our reward for their labor! (If you want to know how to make it, you have to help!)
4. 60 Roasters, over 700 pounds, of Sauerkraut is expertly  seasoned with spices, bacon fat and pieces of pork and made especially for the picnic
5. 1200 pounds of specially seasoned Bratwurst will be wolfed down
6. 300 pounds of Mettwurst will be gobbled up 
7. 3,000 Pork Tenderloins will be transformed into delicious Pork Schnitzel 
8. 3,000 Brötchen (Traditional German Rolls) baked locally by Baker Benji's will be consumed
9. More than 1,000 pieces of strudel will be devoured
10. 200 Cream Puffs will be scarfed down

Photo above: Potato Peeling Parties in preparation for Germanfest Picnic

Photo above: Tasty picnic fare being served at Germanfest

Photo above: Try the Bienenstich (bee sting) cake - made from layers of German pastry dough filled with custard and topped with honey-glazed sliced almonds - you won't be disappointed!

Photo above: Plenty of seating to enjoy delicious homemade German food including German schnitzel, sausages, cabbage rolls, potato salad, sauerkraut and more.

For more photos, see the main event: Germanfest Picnic in Dayton

Germanfest Picnic Schedule

• Friday, August 9  5PM-11PM 
• Saturday, August 10 11AM-11PM 
• Sunday, August 11  11 AM-4PM (Polka Mass at 10a.m.)

Where to Park
Free parking is available:

• Street parking along East Fourth Street and Bacon Street (one block north)
• Various businesses along Fourth Street and east of LaBelle Street
• Bainbridge Street (one block west)
• Holy Trinity church parking lot - Friday and Sunday only
• Stivers HS parking lots - Saturday and Sunday only
• SOITA parking lots (Keowee and Fifth Street) - all weekend long 

For more information, visit the official website at GermanfestDayton.com

How it all started:

In 1983 Dayton Foundation President Fred Bartenstein asked Wanda Wiedman to create something like the Oktoberfest Dayton Art Institute produces each fall. Wanda suggested a summer picnic; Fred went for it and the first Germanfest Picnic took place in 1984. The first year there was no electricity or music and members brought their own grills. In year two the Sauerkraut German Band composed of military and civilian members from WPAFB played music. By year three bands from Austria and Germany were added, the festival expanded to two days and later the entire weekend. 

Dayton Liederkranz-Turner German Club's purpose is to promote and preserve German culture and traditions in the Miami Valley. DLT presents the Germanfest Picnic annually. Funds raised at the picnic enable them to preserve the Miami Valley’s rich German heritage in addition to providing several scholarships.

Links & Tags

Dayton Liederkranz Turner.

Dayton Liederkranz Turner - Dayton's oldest German organization. The group's purpose is to promote and preserve German culture and traditions in the Miami Valley.